Bob Halligan, Jr. - Sprung

1. Call Home

So you're goin' to your first big party
Halloween Superman, buddy knock 'em dead
I guess you don't need me to walk you to the door
Well I can wait here in the car and wave to you instead
Enjoy yourself, behave yourself
And try to remember
If you need me, if you want me, call home
If it's scary, don't you worry, you're not alone
I will always be there for you
Even when you're not sure it's true
If you need me, you can always call home
Say Mr. Graduate, let's smile for the camera
When'd you get taller than your old man?
While I've got you here I'd like to remind you
Your Momma loves you, write her when you can
Enjoy yourself, take care of yourself
And I hope you remember
If you need me, if you want me, call home
If it's scary, don't you worry, you're not alone
I will always be there for you
Even when you're not sure it's true
If you need me, you can always call home
So you're comin' for your first sleep-over
Pajamas in your bag and mischief in your eyes
I bet your Daddy said the same thing to you
That I used to say to him before we'd wave goodbye
"Enjoy yourself- behave yourself- and try to remember

If you need me, if you want me, call home
If you're scared, child, don't you worry, you're not alone
I will always be there for you
Even when you're not sure it's true
If you need me, you can always call home
If you need me, you can always call home"
I hope that you know that you can
You can always call home
Well I hope that you know, I hope you know it never changes, my child

2. I've Never Been to Ireland

It's a bright, sunny day
In the land that they call Ameri-kay
And I'm taking my tea and scones
Paging through photographs of the places I have gone
Italia and Deutschland, faire England
Scotland, I was there too
And Australia didn't seem so far
Not nearly as long as the one trip I won't do
See I've never been to Ireland
Though 'tis sure that I should go
Well if truth be told, I'm frightened
For I fear what I don't know
And I don't know Ireland
And would I dare tell them
That I'd sprung from the seeds they once had sown
Would they throw their ale at me
Laugh and dismiss my claims or invite me to their homes?
And would it feel so grand
That I'd send for my clothes, "Mother Dear, here I'll stay"
And stroll over glens and moors
But will I meet a bullet if too far North I stray?
See I've never been to Ireland
Though 'tis sure that I should go
Well if truth be told, I'm frightened
For I fear what I don't know
And I don't know Ireland
Proud Ireland dares me, son will you appear?
But what's really there for me that I don't have here?

And what of these roots of mine?
Do they come from people, place or thing?
Or truly are Irishman, Englishman, Mother, Son
Just the baggage that we bring?
Well I come from Lord's land
And by God it's a heavenly Emerald Isle
But it's been so long since then
I barely recall how we used to pass the while
It's like I've never been to Ireland
Tho 'tis sure that I will go
Well if truth be told I'm frightened
For it seems so long ago
I pray I'll know Ireland

3. Deeper Darker

Fresh cookies on the counter
I smelled 'em from my room
But Momma said: "They're too hot yet
Your chance is comin' soon"
Then Dad would turn the Dodge off
Boy that thing was loud
Then he'd rush in and scoop me up and
Man I'd feel so proud
But it's a deeper, darker, crueler world
At least I know that now
Wed Linda after college
Got work so we'd survive
Said: "Babe I gotta buckle down
To keep us two alive
Spent weekends at the office
Weekdays out of town
I said: "Babe it's gotta be this rough if
We're to stay around
Cause it's a deeper, darker, crueler world
At least I know that now
Kingdoms fall and babies die
Folks still hate, no one knows why
We scream for answers from on high
But only rain comes from the sky

Well I stand at heaven's doorstep
Four score and three years old
Sweet Jesus says: "Forget that place
And all you've heard and told"
Said: "Now you are with my Father
Come rest here by this cloud"
Yet the smell of Momma's cookies tries to
Call me back somehow

But that's a deeper, darker, crueler world
At least I know that now

4. I Don't Need a Picture

I need to call your name
I need to cry in pain
I need to hide in shame
I need to - I need to
I need to know this bliss
I need to not resist
Oh I need to feel like this
I need to - I need to
But I don't need a picture
No I don't need a picture
No I don't need a picture
To see your face - to see your face
I must walk just like you
I must talk just like you
I must learn what to do
I need to - I need to
I must try not to fall
I must climb every wall
And I must do nothing at all
I need to - oh I need to
But I don't need a picture
No I don't need a picture
No I don't need a picture
To see your face - to see your face
Seems like any moment I'll know what to do
Seems like any time I'll be standing with you
Yet it seems like any moment my chance will be through
Seems like any moment - seems like any moment

I have to dream out loud
And have what you're about
But I'll have to empty out
I need to - I need to

I need to scream with light
And tear apart the night
Oh I need to do you right
Oh I need to - oh I need to
But I don't need a picture
No I don't need a picture
No I don't need a picture
To see your face - to see your face
To see your face
To see your face
I don't need a picture
I don't need a picture - picture- picture

5. Long Black Cadillac

Eight million miles from Buffalo- two score and three more year
I've waltzed across some finish lines, I've drowned in my own tears
But I wonder what they'll speak of me- not worried I will hear
When I lay down in the back of that long black Cadillac

I've made my way with melody- writing many a song
They give me some celebrity- make me feel like I belong
But as good as they have been to me, not one will ride along
When I lay down in the back of that long black Cadillac
When I lay down in the back of that long, long black Cadillac

I believed I was God's messenger, my mission right as rain
See I'd come to soothe the savages, I sing to ease their pain
Well I'll have preached for nothin' should this foolish pride remain
When I lay down in the back of that long black Cadillac

Some nights as I may serenade, rough maidens stand and stare
I like the way they look at me, I fancy that they care
But even if they love me true, how many will be there
When I lay down in the back of that long black Cadillac?
When I lay down in the back of that long, long, long black Cadillac
All the years of sailing- all the fears of failing
All just echoes trailing off
Close the final chapter- on all the things you're after
Say a prayer of thanks they're lost
I hope to roam ten million miles from the place where I've begun
And stride into the hazy night, and stand beneath the sun
But God help me if it matters just how much I've gotten done
When I lay down in the back of that long black Cadillac

Shed only tears of joy for me, bright flowers only send
Cause I will give up gracefully when this life's at an end
See I know I'll get another chance to ride around again- I know I'll rise again
When I lay down in the back of that long black Cadillac
When I lay down in the back of that long, long, long black Cadillac

6. Some Good News

Oh Lord I'm searchin', searchin'
To see where my hope has gone
You know how long I've been lookin'-well the search goes on
You gave me home and family
And placed them in my care
I can't pay our way with money that isn't there
We could use some good news
We could use some good news
Some of that "like it should" news
We really could use some really good news
You taught me not to question
Til now I never tried
If I had nine thousand dollars, I wouldn't ask you why
Like: "Why is my son a poor boy
When I've worked for all these years
Why fill our heads with dreams and our eyes with tears?"
We could use some good news
We could use some good news
Some of that "like it should" news
We really would use some really good news
Lord I'm a good man- you know I am
But I'm still waiting to see your footprints in the sand

Maybe I'm searchin', searchin'
Wrong places for wrong things
May be some other way for me to earn my wings
Maybe the news we're after
Comes from some better place
And maybe we'll read the headlines upon Your face

We could use some good news
Some of Your glorious Good News
No more "like it should" news
We really would use Your really Good News

7. Can You Play Awhile

You have to go where you belong
So I'll be strong as I can
It hurts me that you have to leave
Still I believe it's in the plan
But oh, I hear the car out by the door
Well I don't have the right
But I wanna know, before you go
Can you play awhile with me darlin'?
Can you stay awhile, and can I take your hand?
Can you play awhile so your dear, sweet smile
Is the last thing that I see? Could you do that for me?
I thought that I could save the world
But I'm a fool like any man
Now you're goin' with somebody who'll
Take care of you, cause I just can't
But oh, we had our times, didn't we babe?
Now I, well I promise to write
Hey you gotta go, but just for a minute or so
Can you play awhile with me darlin'?
Can you stay awhile, can I take your hand?
Can you play awhile so your dear, sweet smile
Is the last thing that I see? Could you do that for me?
Well I know what's right, yes I do
I know what things I should've not said to you

I used to know where I belonged
Now I'll be strong if I can
But oh, I hear the car out by the door
Well I- now I don't have the right
But I wanna know, before you go

Can you play awhile with me darlin'?
Can we pray awhile, can we raise our hands?
Can we play awhile so the smile of a child
Is the last thing that I see? Could you do that for me?

8. Kiss Her Goodnight For Me

Leave her a glass of water
On the night stand by the bed
Make sure she knows you're near her
Should a nightmare fill her head
If you don't mind it too much
Once you've done the things I've said
Kiss her goodnight for me
Please hold her tight for me
And if you treat her gently
She will love you well
No one regrets a moment
More than that one, more than I
I guess that's just who I was then
And where the stars were in the sky
Don't let her see this letter
It would only make her cry
Just kiss her goodnight for me
Please hold her tight for me
And if you treat her gently
She will love you well
Enough to know
If you really love her, down to your soul
If you don't, then let her go
Kiss her goodnight for me
Please hold her tight for me
And if you treat her gently
She will love you well

9. Love Travels

So I stand here and gaze across the ocean
Knowing that I may not ever hold you
Quite the way I told you
But the distance won't silence my devotion
Cause I believe there is still a way to reach out
In my heart there's no doubt
Love travels the miles upon the wings of angels
Love finds you, I swear it's true
I can love you from here- love you from here
So I stare at the photograph before me
Wonderin' if you still believe I love you
I did what I had to do
And then I look and I swear I saw you smilin'
Heaven makes these tender hearts the strongest
Mine beats for you as long as
Love travels the miles upon the wings of angels
Love finds you, I swear it's true
I can love you from here
On moonbeams, on heart strings
Love makes its way through anything
Love finds you, I swear it's true
I will always be near, cause I'll love you from here
Time will never change me
You just gotta believe it
And the dream that saves me is
That you're happy and that you're free

It'll fly through the air with the greatest of ease
As much as you want, now, as much as you need
Across every mountain and all seven seas
The eagles will carry it on God's gentle breeze
And I'll never give up (Never give up)
I'll never give in (Never give in)
And you'll know that it's me when you hear the voice singin'

Lai la lai lai, la lai lai la lai Gotta listen to me, listen to me sing
(Lai la lai lai, la lai lai la lai) And you'l know that it's me
Singin (singin') singin' (singin') singin'
Love travels the miles upon the wings of angels
Love finds you, I swear it's true
I can love you from here
On moonbeams, on heart strings
Love makes its way through anything
Love finds you, I swear it's true
I will always be near, cause I'll love you from here

10. The Angel's Eyes

Hush now, my baby- no need for cryin'
Somebody wants you to know that he's watchin'
So now and forever you'll always stand
In the gaze of the Angel's eyes
So waltz into the light, dance into the night
Cause you're never out of sight of the Angel's eyes
Laugh along the way through the darkest day
Cause all the love that's in the skies
Shines through the Angel's eyes
He's counted your toes and he's kissed all your fingers
He quiets your troubles with a touch warm and tender
And all while you grow up he'll walk beside you
Watching with Angel's eyes
So waltz into the light, dance into the night
Cause you're never out of sight of the Angel's eyes
Laugh along the way through the darkest day
Cause all the love that's in the skies
Shines through the Angel's eyes
Hush now, my baby, no need for cryin'
The thunder won't hurt you, my precious child
Sometimes the raindrops are only the tears
Of joy from the Angel's eyes
So waltz into the light, dance into the night
Cause you're never out of sight of the Angel's eyes
Laugh along the way through the darkest day
Cause all the love that's in the skies
Shines through the Angel's eyes